He would not ask Lady Earle, although he knew that she would have
parted with the last jewel in her case for him.

Ronald gave himself up to the study of painting. A pretty little
studio was built, and Dora spent long hours in admiring both her
husband and his work. He gave promise of being some day a good
artist--not a genius. The world would never rave about his
pictures; but, in time, he would be a conscientious, painstaking
artist. Among his small coterie of friends some approved, others
laughed.

"Why not go to the Jews?" asked fashionable young men.
"Earlescourt must be yours some day. You can borrow money if you
like."

Ronald steadily refused to entertain the idea. He wondered at
modern ideas of honor--that men saw no shame in borrowing upon
the lives of their nearest and dearest, yet thought it a disgrace
to be a follower of one of the grandest of arts. He made one
compromise--that was for his father's sake. As an artist, he
was known by Dora's name of Thorne, and, before long, Ronald
Thorne's pictures were in great request. There was no dash of
genius about them; but they were careful studies. Some few were
sold, and the price realized proved no unwelcome addition to a
small income.

Ronald became known in Florence. People who had not thought much
of Mr. Earle were eager to know the clever artist and his pretty,
shy wife. Then the trial of Ronald Earle began in earnest. Had
he lived always away from the world, out of society, the chances